Adulting is Hard; Three Ways to Make Travel Easier

This post was sponsored by BMO Insurance. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.

Be an adult, Susan.

Look, most of us have made some pretty sketchy travel decisions in our youth. Whether it’s staying at a 1.5-star motel or taking that red-eye flight to Vegas (bonus points if you stayed at a sketchy motel in Vegas), there’s no doubt about it: we’ve likely taken a gamble or two. (Pun intended!)

But here’s the thing: we grow up, we become accustomed to daytime flights and smoke-free hotel rooms, and we begin travelling with the most precious cargo of all: our children.Still willing to take those vacation risks? Me neither. Here’s how I do my best adulting.

1. Always travel with more OTC medications than necessary. No, you don’t have to be a moving pharmacy. But 2am in the morning, on a cruise ship, in the middle of the Caribbean, is not the time to discover you don’t have itch relief cream for nasty bug bites or pain killers for a sudden migraine. I always have the basics covered: over-the-counter pain and fever reducing medication; anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea tablets; relief from allergic reactions or insect bites, and rehydration powder for tummy ailments. And remember, *always* pack prescription medication in your carryon baggage.2. Make sure your vaccinations are up to date. Depending on where you’re travelling to, you may want to consider destination-specific vaccinations. The Government of Canada has a handy website for travel advice and advisories, which can help you make informed decisions while you are abroad. You’ll also find regularly updated information on:

– local safety and security conditions and areas to avoid
– entry and exit requirements
– local laws and culture
– possible health hazards and health restrictions
– natural hazards and climate
– where to find help while you are travelling abroad

3. Purchase travel insurance. If you read the title of this post, you knew this one was coming. And truthfully? I’d make this #1, #2 and #3 if I could. There’s simply no better way to help protect your family while on vacation, and after experiencing our own scare with our little one, it’s something I never take for granted.

You may remember this post, where I detailed my son’s allergic reaction from an insect bite. After calling a local Mexican doctor and purchasing two different prescription medications, the bill was $450 USD. Yeah, it stung, but guess what? We knew we’d be reimbursed upon returning home. We had travel insurance, of course.If you travel more than twice per year, from visiting family in another province or country to booking a last minute getaway that’s too good to resist, you may want to consider BMO Insurance’s Annual Medical Travel Insurance Plan. Starting at just $49 for up to 10-days of continuous travel, one annual premium provides coverage for an unlimited number of trips for up to $5 million per insured person for medical emergencies. Plus, when you purchase a family plan (two adult plans), your coverage includes all dependent children at no additional cost.

As much as I like to look back and chuckle about my 20-something escapades, I’m happier now as a responsible adult who looks after the welfare of her family. It’s true, adulting is hard. Purchasing travel insurance? That’s easy.

Travel insurance is a must! I can’t even imagine the extreme costs of medical things outside of Canada. We always bring the essentials with us. At the time it seems like a lot of stuff to pack but it’s always worth it as soon as the first ailment on vacation strikes!